A system and method for providing a content feed file for a content file to a content host. The method comprises delivering the content file and the content feed file to the content host, wherein the content feed file comprises one or more policies and the one or more policies direct the content host to manage the content file according to the one or more policies. After the content host processes the content file according to the provided policies, the content owner receives a status report wherein the status report comprises information about actions taken by the content host according to the one or more policies.

A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file in accordance with the present invention includes a series of encoded video frames and encoded menu information.

A method for execution by a customer premises receiver, comprising: receiving a signal that carries an original media stream; determining a location of the receiver; obtaining an identifier of an authorized region for the receiver; determining whether said location is contained within said authorized region; if said location is determined to be contained within said authorized region, outputting the original media stream for conveyance to a user; if said location is determined to not be contained within said authorized region, outputting a second media stream that is sufficiently corrupted relative to the original media stream as to degrade the user's viewing experience while being demonstrative of non-malfunctioning of the receiver. Also, a method, comprising a service provider releasing towards a plurality of customer premises receivers information regarding a respective geographic region within which each receiver is authorized to operate, wherein different geographic regions define coverage areas of different sizes.

A system and method for providing a content feed file for a content file to a content host. The method comprises delivering the content file and the content feed file to the content host, wherein the content feed file comprises one or more policies and the one or more policies direct the content host to manage the content file according to the one or more policies. After the content host processes the content file according to the provided policies, the content owner receives a status report wherein the status report comprises information about actions taken by the content host according to the one or more policies.

A method performed by a portable media player device. The method receives a microphone signal that includes audio content output by an audio playback device via a loudspeaker. The method determines identification information regarding the audio content, wherein the identification information is determined through an acoustic signal analysis of the microphone signal. In response to determining that the audio playback device has ceased outputting the audio content, the method retrieves from local memory of the portable media player device or a remote device with which the portable media player device is communicatively coupled, an audio signal that corresponds to the audio content and drives a speaker that is not part of the audio playback device using the audio signal to continue outputting the audio content and any additional audio content related to the audio content.

The disclosed computer-implemented method includes determining that audio quality is to be adjusted for a multimedia streaming connection over which audio data and video data are being streamed to a content player. The audio data is streamed at a specified audio quality level and the video data is streamed at a specified video quality level. The method also includes determining that a specified minimum video quality level is to be maintained while adjusting the audio quality level. Still further, the method includes dynamically adjusting the audio quality level of the multimedia streaming connection while maintaining the video quality level of the multimedia streaming connection at at least the specified minimum video quality level. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

A configuration capable of recording MMT format data in a medium as BDAV or SPAV format data and enabling the MMT format data to be reproduced is realized. MMT format data input via a broadcast wave or the like is input, and record data according to a BDAV format or an SPAV format is generated. A data processing unit generates an MMT format stream file storing the MMT format data as reproduction data and further generates a playlist file storing reproduction control information of the MMT format stream file and a clip information file.

A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file in accordance with the present invention includes a series of encoded video frames and encoded menu information.

The disclosed computer-implemented method includes determining that audio quality is to be adjusted for a multimedia streaming connection over which audio data and video data are being streamed to a content player. The audio data is streamed at a specified audio quality level and the video data is streamed at a specified video quality level. The method also includes determining that a specified minimum video quality level is to be maintained while adjusting the audio quality level. Still further, the method includes dynamically adjusting the audio quality level of the multimedia streaming connection while maintaining the video quality level of the multimedia streaming connection at at least the specified minimum video quality level. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

A method and computer readable medium for exploring similar users and items of a media service. In one aspect, a user can explore for similar users iteratively. In one aspect, a user interface is generated that displays a user selectable indicia representing a similar member function for allowing a user to search a media service for at least one other user which has a degree of similarity with respect to the searching user. In another aspect, a method facilitates the search of such a similar user within a media service.